South Wingfield

As Derbyshire emerged from the Dark Ages and towns with markets like Chesterfield began to attract a population of artisans and traders during the early Middle Ages, prosperous merchants and churchmen became attracted to the county. One of the most eminent of these was Thomas Cromwell, at one time the richest and most powerful man in England, who built Wingfield Manor.

The evocative and hauntingly beautiful ruins of Wingfield Manor stand proudly atop a rocky hill above the village of South Wingfield, with the tall chimneys and gaunt towers rising resolutely to two hundred feet above the valley floor, and dominating the surrounding pastoral landscape. High up in the tower can also be seen a single archer’s slit, built the opposite way round so that only one archer was needed to defend the whole tower. A wander around the remains reveals the large banqueting hall with its unusual oriel window and a crypt which was probably used to store food and wine. Whatever its use, it is a particularly fine example and rivals a similar structure at Fountains Abbey.

This was the romantic setting for scenes from the films, The Virgin & the Gypsy and Zefferelli’s adaptation of Jane Eyre. The ruins have also been featured in the TV series, Peak Practice - but most famously, the manor house was used as Mary, Queen of Scots’ prison on two separate occasions in 1569 and 1584 when she was held under the care of the Earl of Shrewsbury. The local squire, Anthony Babington, attempted to rescue the Queen and lead her to safety but the plot failed and, instead, led to them both being beheaded. Though still a ruin, the house is now owned by English Heritage and open to the public at certain times of the year for pre-booked guided tours only. It can be reached by a farm track half a mile to the south of the village.

East of the village is the Parish Church of All Saints, which dates originally from the 13th century. At the same time as building Wingfield Manor, Cromwell refurbished the church and built a new tower, while also preserving the arcades on both sides of the nave.